Assessing the Short- and Long-Term Health Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide in Agadir, Morocco: A WHO AirQ+ Model Application

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have revealed that exposure to atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) increases the risk of acute and chronic diseases. This study used the WHO AirQ model to assess both the short- and long-term impacts of NO₂ on human health in the city of Agadir in Morocco. The mean NO₂ values were obtained from measurements taken at two locations. This study assessed the long- term health effects of NO₂ on natural all-cause mortality (LT-ACM), mortality due to respiratory diseases (LT-RD), and morbidity due to chronic obstructive pulmo-nary disease (LT-COPD), as well as the short-term health impacts of NO₂ on natural all-cause mortality (ST-ACM), mortality due to respiratory diseases (ST-RD), and asthma hospitalizations and emergency admissions (ST-A). The attributable proportion (AP) per 10 µg m^-3 in adults aged 30 and over in LT-ACM, LT-RD, and LT-CPOD was estimated to be 16.42%, 23.49%, and 23.49%, respectively; the number of attributable cases (NAP) was estimated to be 323, 17, and 11, respectively; and the RRs were estimated to be 1.20 (95% CI: 1.09–1.43), 1.31 (95% CI: 1.09–1.56), and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.09–1.43), respectively. In addition, the AP at 25 µg m^-3 for all ages in ST-ACM, ST-RD, and ST-A was estimated to be 17.15%, 9.25%, and 21.45%, respectively, and the NAP was estimated to be 12, 182, and 15, respectively. A significant number of deaths and serious cases of asthma and COPD can be avoided if the NO₂ concentrations are below the WHO exposure limits. The findings of this study match those of previous studies on the impact of air pollution on humans. Reducing NO₂ emissions from various sources, especially car exhaust, and enhancing monitoring systems are two methods that may significantly mitigate adverse health effects in the population.